Lamp-supporting device for upright pianos



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

G. s. ROBERTS.

LAMP SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR UPRIGHT PIANOS.

N0.37 6, 452. Patented Jan. 1'7, 1888.

MTNE55E5 F 2 //vvE/vr0R N. Pains Pholo'l-ilhogmpller. Washinglfln. 0.6.

(No Model.)

' G. ROBERTS. LAMP SUPPORTING DEVICE FORUPRIGHT PIANOS. No. 376,452.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Jan. 17, 1888.

HI 'mmlmuuun IIHIHHIH 0 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. ROBERTS, OF MEREDITH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

LAMP-SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR UPRIGHT PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,452, dated January 17, l8fi8.

Application filed April 14, 1887. Serial No. 234,805. (No model) To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. ROBERTS, of Meredith, in the county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Supporting Devices for Upright Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation'to lamp-supports for pianos, organs, and similar musical instruments, and particularly to such devices as are adapted to be applied to upright pianos.

It is the object of my invention to provide a lamp-supporting bracket which may be attached to the under side of the key board or bed on which the key board rests of an upright piano, or like article, so as not to mar j any part of the instrument exposed to view, and so as when in use to be adapted to hold the lamp in position to cast its light upon the keys and'music, and when not needed to be readily folded out of the way.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination, with the key board or bed on which the key-board rests of an upright piano or similar musical instrument, of a lamp-supporting bracket secured to the under surface of said key board or bed on which the keyboard rests; said bracket having a pivoted or hinged connection with the key board or bed on which the key-board rests, to enable the bracket to be folded out of the way when not needed for use. I

My invention also consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters indicating the same parts wherever they occur.

Of the drawings, Figure ,1 represents a perspective View of an upright piano with my invention applied thereto,the dotted lines in said figure showing the lamp-support as folded downward and swung under the key board or bed on which the key-board rests, out of use. Fig. 2 represents a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing the bracket as in condition for use, and as simply folded downward. Fig. 3 represents a bottom plan view of the keyboard or bed with my invention applied thereto,

showing thelamp-support in its used and nonused positions. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view, hereinafter referred to. Fig. 5 represents a detail view of a modified form, hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, A represents an upright piano, anda the key board or bed of the same.

To the under surface of the key-board or bed at (having reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inelusive) is secured a pivot-plate, b, by means of screws 0 c, or other suitable means.

d represents a second plate, provided with a hole through which the hub e of pivot-plate b is adapted to pass, by which constrution plate 01 is supported by pivot-plate b, so as to turn horizontally thereon.

f indicates an arm pivoted to plate d by means of a rod, passing through ears orlugs h h, with which said last-mentioned plate is provided, and through similar features formed on the lower or inner end of said arm, which, when in use, extends outward and upward,as represented in Fig. 1, and is provided on its upper end with a lampsupporting plate or disk, 73.

The object of connecting arm or bracket f with the key-board or bed in the manner described is to secure a construction in the nature of a universal or ball-and-socket joint, so

that arm f can be turned around horizontally to anydesired place, or raised upward to hold the lamp-support in proper position, or

be folded down, and turned under the key board or bed, out of the way, as shown in dot ted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, so that other forms of a ball-and'soeket or universaljoint connection of arm f with the key-board would answer the purpose.

In order to hold arm or bracketf in its raised full-line position, Figs. 1 and 2, I provide an arm, j, secured at its inner end to the key-board and extending outward and around, so that arm f' may be swung thereupon and be held, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

If desired, a spring or similar contrivance, in, may be secured to arm f in such manner as to extend outward and downward therefrom, and engage a notch, Z, Fig. 2, in arm j, and so prevent arm f from being accidentally swung around and off from arm j when a lamp is on the support '5. Arm f may be disengaged from arm j by pressing upward on the outer free end, m, of spring k, and lifting it out of notch Z. (Shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.)

n a represent fingers formed on arm f at a pointrearward from its pivotal connection with plate d, which fingers extend downward at an angle to the adjacent portion of arm f, so as to limit the extent to which the lamp-support ing end of said arm may be folded downward, said fingers being adapted to come in contact with plate d and hold armfin the position in which it is pictured in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified construction of the means for supporting arm f. In place of arm j, I secure a plate or bracket, 0, to the under side of the key-board or bed and form a slot therein, in which arm f may move, said slot consisting of two horizontal portions, 1) q, and a vertical portion, 0, connecting said horizontal portions. Vith this construction arm f may be connected to the under side of the key-board or key-bed by a universal joint, or in an equivalent way, and extend out through the slot in bracket 0, so that when the lamp-support is not needed for use, it can be folded under the key-board or key-bed, with the arm resting in the lower horizontal portion q of the slot, and when said lamp-support is needed for use the arm can he moved outward through slot q, raised through the vertical part 1- into the portion 19, where the arm may be allowed to rest on the bracket without fear of being moved off the same, or of being moved into contact with any part of the piano and so damage the same. Vith this construction, of course fingers n n will be dispensed with, and, as stated, other known means of securing a universal-joint connection with the key board or bed may be employed.

Although I have been particular to describe the form and construction of the various parts and features of the invention, as here shown, it is obvious that these may be varied without departing from the nature and spirit of the improvements.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The combination, with the key board or bed a of an upright piano, of a lamp-supporting arm or bracket having a universal-joint connection with said key board or bed,whereby the lampsupporting bracket may be folded under the key board or bed or moved out therefromunder, and an arm or bracket also secured to the key board or bed to support said lamp-supporting arm when moved outward, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbeforeset forth.

2. The combination, with the key board or bed a, of the pivot-plate 2), plate d, pivotally connected with plate a, armf, hinged to pla'e d, and supporting arm j, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 1st day of April, ii the year of our Lord 1887.

GEORGE S. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

D. E. EATON, S. A. LADD. 

